The Biggest Loser is one of the most popular reality television shows. Roger Shultz broke the record for the most weight lost on the show in season 5.
Suite 101: What motivated you to apply for the show?
Shultz: First, I was a big reality show fan. I loved Survivor and Amazing Race, but I was 363 pounds. When The Biggest Loser came out I said now there's a show I can get on. I've got that look!
Suite 101: You were not chosen right away. What kept you motivated to keep trying out?
Shultz: I applied for season 3 - didn't make it. I applied for season 4 - didn't make it. I applied for season 5 and finally got in. I know I'd be great on there. I also know that if I got the opportunity to go away and concentrate on losing weight I'd knock this out. I know me. I know what I'm made of so I kept plugging away.
Suite 101: What kept you motivated at the ranch?
Shultz: I looked at every day as an opportunity to lose weight. They took away all external factors: no phone, no paper, no TV, no communication from home. Then, they gave you the best of everything: the best trainers, the best facilities, the best food - all right there in front of you. I woke up each day and worked as hard as I could work. I learned early, learned the tools to be successful, so that even if I only stayed a couple of weeks I had a jumpstart to change my life.
Suite 101: What important things about diet did you learn?
Shultz: I can easily control what goes in my mouth and I've got to constantly watch that. Eating a good breakfast is key, especially oatmeal. If I eat oatmeal for breakfast it makes my entire day better. I'm not feeling hungry, like I need to binge at the end of the day. I try not to eat carbs after 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I learned to use alternatives like yogurt for sour cream and choosing lean meats. And, I need to drink water!
Suite 101: What important things about exercise did you learn?
Shultz: I love weight training. It keeps your metabolism up longer. My other favorites are spin classes and interval training on the treadmill. Interval training is key - it's better for your body.
Suite 101: What are the pitfalls of going home and being on your own?
Shultz: It's hard to get back into normal life. You get picked up at 363 pounds and dropped off at 199 pounds. It's difficult to fit it all in in real life, the diet and exercise, especially the exercise. I've done pretty good at controlling my diet. Weird things happen too, like people taking pictures of what I eat in a restaurant.
Shultz: There are still temptations around every corner. And you really have to be in control. It's little things, like ordering in a restaurant that are hard. They put all that crap on it and you have to scrape it off. You really have to be on top of it. Like, when I order broccoli and then it comes out with that cheese sauce. When we're all dead and gone that cheese sauce will still be here!
Shultz: Or, if I ask for a nutritional chart before ordering, the waitress says, "Oh honey, you don't want to know what's in that!" Little things add up with food and then I get pissed at myself. If you really want to lose wight, you need to learn how to cook!
Suite 101: So, have you learned to cook?
Shultz: Let's just say I've learned to experiment with things!
Suite 101: How are you doing now to continue to maintain what you lost?
Shultz: I'm doing great. I've gained a bit back. When I was on the show, it was a contest - to lose the most that you could and I worked hard to do that. I think I got too small. You have to go by how your clothes feel and how you look, not a number. And most people are brutally honest with you - they'll tell you how they think you look!
Shultz: This is how I think: I have to have it between the ears. I could lie to myself, or I could go work out. I try to find the balance between what goes in and burn off more. I like to end the day with an hour on the elliptical.
Suite 101: What advice do you have for others trying to lose weight?
Shultz: Here's what I learned: Count calories - keep a food journal. If you don't write it down, you'll never know. And don't forget. All the things that you forget are the things that really add up. And, drink water, plenty of water. That's one thing I've really got to get back to.
Shultz: I try to help people now, when I give talks, but they make excuses. It's all excuses, so I just look at them and say - then just be fat! Saying that is actually what motivated a talk show host that interviewed me. She looks great now! It's a choice, you can work hard or just be fat.
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